Rolex GMT-Master II 'Sprite'

We admit that for us, the GMT-Master in all its variations is one of our most beloved Rolexes ever, and even more. Not without reason, this is the model with the most nicknames (as you know, many of Rolex's special models have nicknames by which they are known among connoisseurs and which have become so common that they are more popular than their official names). We will list perhaps the most famous of them: Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Root Beer and of course the newer ones Batman, Pepsi, Batgirl, Sprite and Zombie. All of them are currently selling above their launch price, and even contemporary models sell for well above their official price – a "marketing trick" a skeptic might say, but rather another proof of the right market strategy and price positioning. The presented watch is different from all other models not only of the GMT, but of Rolex in general. And the reasons for this are rooted in the fact that this is the first so-called “Destro” model – i.e. it is made to be worn on the right hand and for this reason the crown is located on the right side of the case, and the other interesting difference is that the date display is located at the “9 o’clock” marker. A truly interesting and different decision by the designers. The model was first introduced at Watches & Wonders in 2022 and immediately became the most talked-about watch (and not just from Rolex). But why is this model so liked and sought-after - it is neither the most expensive, the most robust, the most complicated, nor the most beautiful watch? Certainly, one of the reasons is its so-called “true GMT” new in-house movement Caliber 3285, which has an increased power reserve of 70 h, a seriously improved automatic winding system where the rotor is now on a ball bearing, and its efficiency is increased by 15%. As for the lubrication, the reversing wheels, as one of the problematic areas in terms of friction, are Teflon-coated! The new 3285 has 14 integrated patents and more than 90% new components, and it is also twice as accurate as the official COSC chronometer. All this allows the movement to be one of the few that fall into the brand's “Superlative Chronometer” category! We are sure that most readers are aware that Rolex calls its water-resistant cases Oyster. I.e. if this name is present in the watch's designation, it means that it is water-resistant. And of course the GMT Master II meets this qualification 100% - although, unlike the Submariner, here this indicator is only 100, but as you can guess, the meters here are real. The watch's dial is very clean and easily legible, and the luminescence of the hands and indices facilitates its use at night. The luminescence is blue (which is proven to be much more pleasant and harmless to the human eye) – and the so-called Chromalight used by Rolex allows the indices to appear milky white during the day. Regardless of the fact that the GMT Master II is a professional instrument, as was the manufacturer's intention from its very launch, it is clear to everyone that for a long time it has become a luxury attribute – and for quite some time now, this function of it has prevailed over the original reason for its creation. Perhaps for this very reason, Rolex does many things in this model so that the appearance and the overall impression the watch creates prevails over its functionality. The first thing that makes an impression is the sapphire – Rolex applies the anti-reflective coating only on the inner side of the cyclops, and this allows the outer part of the crystal to be more brilliant and shiny for contemplation. For the case back of the watch, Rolex uses a simple solid case back (as, by the way, in all its models) – and in this case, it is devoid of any markings, inscriptions, or other “decorations”. As we all know, for its watches Rolex uses noble 904L steel – the difference with the usual 316L for other brands is in the greater resistance (especially against salt water). It is a widely known fact that Rolex can be called fanatics when it comes to the steel they use – a large part of the metallurgical processes are done in-house to guarantee a uniform quality of the raw material – many watches have passed through our hands, but we can say with absolute certainty that no other brand devotes so much attention and effort to the quality of the final product in terms of the case finish – and as a result, a unique quality and presence is inevitably achieved. The overall impression is complemented by the watch's 24-hour bezel – its purpose is clear, to track a second time zone – trivial, isn't it. In the old models, the bezel insert was made of aluminum with the hour markers printed on it, but with this model, in 2008, the ceramic bezel was introduced for the first time. Here again, the material is a special creation and is different from the massively used materials, which is why Rolex calls it - "Cerachrom." The bezel itself is divided into two segments – the black for the dark part of the day and the green for the light part – it is precisely the colors that give the abbreviation of the reference VTNR (VT from the French VerTe and NR from NoaR), and because of this color solution, fans nicknamed the model “Sprite”. Indeed, in the 60s Rolex created a great product and invested the next 60 years to improve and perfect it. If in the beginning it was valued by customers as a not very expensive everyday watch, today it is to a greater extent a fashion accessory, which however has all the qualities to become a long-term partner to its owner, which besides not abandoning you, will also not lose much of its value, because it is no secret to anyone that this brand, besides not being found with large discounts when new, also has the reputation of a brand with the best value-retaining watches, and this particular model can boldly rank in the forefront of Rolex in terms of popularity and is consequently one of the most sought-after and desired. Certainly, one of the reasons for this is the fact that this watch looks equally good on your wrist whether you are in a formal suit or dressed in worn-out jeans and a white t-shirt – in both cases, the GMT-Master II will help attract approving glances to your appearance.